Float Tube Fishing (by Jeff C.)

The following was written by Jeff C. in Indiana about fishing from his Creek Company ODC 420 Float Tube. Jeff wrote the article for the “outdoor” section of his local newspaper.

If you are looking for a new way to fish, then read on. I just recently purchased my very first float tube. I was able to squeeze a little fishing time in on Sunday, April 19^th and headed out to my favorite little pond. I was not sure what to expect nor how well it would all work out; I was very pleased with the boat, tube, thing. Let me explain a little on that.

You may be familiar with a float tube; it’s pretty simple and is just like it sounds. Just like many other industries, technology has evolved and given us a very functional little one man fishing boat. I was pleased with the stability of the unit and didn’t want to be in anything that would not provide a stable enough base for fly-fishing.

I did a lot of research and read the pros and cons on the various types of boats prior to buying mine. You can get into a float tube for as low as $70 dollars. The problem with the entry-level float tubes is just that…entry. They are round and to get in you must climb down and through the middle of the tube. I read stories of the difficulty associated with this type and immediately knew that I didn’t want to go this direction. The next level up is a float tube with an open front so it’s easier to get in and out of. My tube also has a seat that sets pretty high up…almost out of the water. I also knew that I wanted a tube that had a very tough and puncture resistant bottom. Mine has a 30 oz. PVC bottom cover for added durability. The tube has two small pontoon like tubes that are connected in the back, thus allowing for easy travel in the backward direction. My only difficulty came in changing directions. You have to do so by turning the kick fins just right and sitting up high in the boat allowing for a short radius and a quick direction change. I might add that all float tubes are for still water only. I wasn’t quite sure I understood this until I had spent some time in the unit as it is tough to quickly change directions and would be near impossible to get out of fast flowing water.

The fishing was great. I am not sure if it was just the right day or if the tube allowed me to fish the ‘good stuff’ more often. I caught 30 or so bluegill in the two hours; one was a true hog. It measured almost 12 inches long and almost 10 inches in height. I love catching these big gills as they really put up a fight. I also landed a 14-inch crappie and had never caught crappie from this pond before. I caught a few small bass and one that measured a touch over 14 inches and gave me quite a fight on small tippet.

Maybe you are someone who likes to fish small lakes and/or ponds; if so, this is the medium for you. Take some time and check it out in depth to make sure of what you want in a tube before purchasing. If fly fishing or light spin casting is your thing…these tubes are also right up your alley. I was quite curious to see how much I would be sitting out of the water and how much that might affect my ability to fly cast. As it turned out I was sitting up high enough that at no time did my back cast touch the water.

Lastly, the tube is very portable and would make a great means for fishing some small waters while on vacation, when space is important. I purchased a small 12 volt pump that had an attachment for the Boston valves, it cost $20 dollars. It took less than 30 seconds to fill either side of the tube. So, you can see that you could take it along and when you get some time, pump it up, fish and then put it away and everyone is happy. It is also light, it weighs in at 16 pounds, so if you are looking for a way to hike in and fish a remote lake or pond…this is your ticket. The tube has D rings on the bottom that allow you to snap on carrying straps giving you the ability to backpack the boat in to where you want to fish. If you were looking at hiking in and camping, you could also pack a manual pump that would allow you to inflate the tube once at your destination.

As I have said before, we are blessed here in Indiana with lots of good water to fish from. There are some big fish living in some small waters…and it is all just sitting there, waiting for you to Enjoy the Great Outdoors.